Children with Chronic Health Conditions at Increased Risk of Food Insecurity, New Study Finds

Recent research indicates that children suffering from chronic health conditions are more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their healthier peers. The study, led by the University of Michigan and published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 34,000 U.S. children aged 2 to 17 years, collected between 2019 and 2023. It revealed that children with conditions such as asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and prediabetes or diabetes face higher rates of household food insecurity.

Importantly, the study found that even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors like income, education, and employment status, children with chronic conditions still had a significantly higher prevalence of food insecurity. The risk increased with the number of chronic health issues a child had—the more conditions, the greater the likelihood of food insecurity within the household.

The research also explored how food insecurity trends changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, improvements around 2021 were observed, likely due to expanded support programs such as the child tax credit, SNAP, and WIC benefits. However, these gains diminished as pandemic-era policies expired in 2022 and 2023.

While the relationship between chronic health conditions and food insecurity is clear, the directionality remains uncertain. It is possible that food insecurity contributes to the development or worsening of chronic illnesses, or that families overwhelmed by chronic caregiving responsibilities face economic hardships leading to food insecurity.

Food insecurity affects approximately 10% of U.S. households with children aged 2–17 and is linked to increased risks of health issues such as asthma, anemia, developmental delays, and mental health challenges in children.

The findings emphasize the importance of screening for food insecurity in pediatric healthcare settings, especially for children with chronic conditions. Connecting families to assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, and integrating food support into health care, can help mitigate these adverse health effects. Some health systems and insurers are also introducing initiatives like medically tailored meals and grocery prescriptions to address this critical social determinant.

"Our results underscore the urgent need to strengthen policies to combat food insecurity among children," said lead researcher Dr. Nina Hill. "Ensuring access to nutritional support is vital for the health and well-being of vulnerable populations."

This study was co-authored by Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, a prominent pediatrician and research lead at the University of Michigan. For more details, visit source.